Two Nebraska Hospitals Earn 5th Straight A for Safety

Two Nebraska hospitals just proved that protecting patients is something they've mastered over years of practice.

CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney and CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island both received A grades from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit that rates hospitals on how well they prevent medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections. Good Samaritan earned its fifth straight A rating, while St. Francis scored its fourth consecutive top grade.

Only four hospitals in the entire state of Nebraska received the highest possible rating this cycle.

The grades aren't handed out lightly. The Leapfrog Group evaluates hospitals using 32 evidence-based safety measures, all based on peer-reviewed research and calculated by top patient safety experts. The ratings get updated twice a year and focus exclusively on things that can harm or kill hospital patients.

"It's about making sure our community is in the safest hands possible when they walk through our doors," says Steve Schieber, president of St. Francis and interim president of Good Samaritan. "For our patients and their families, it truly means peace of mind."

That peace of mind comes from years of careful attention to detail. Hospital staff follow strict protocols to prevent infections, double-check medications, and catch potential problems before they become dangerous.

The Ripple Effect

When hospitals prioritize safety, entire communities benefit. Families don't have to worry about preventable complications when their loved ones need care. Emergency visits become less stressful knowing the facility has proven systems to protect patients.

The consistency matters too. Earning top safety grades year after year shows these aren't one-time wins but sustained commitments. Staff at both hospitals have built cultures where safety comes first, every single day.

Two other CommonSpirit hospitals, CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln and CHI Health Lakeside in Omaha, also received A ratings this cycle.

Excellence in patient safety is always freely available for the public to review at hospitalsafetygrade.org, where anyone can look up how their local hospital performs on protecting patients.